"‘Play at All Costs’: Sadio Mane Shares How He Inspired Senegal’s Return to the Pitch in Afcon Final, While Coach Pape Thiaw Issues Apology"

SADIO MANE has revealed how he convinced his Senegal team-mates back onto the pitch in the Afcon final.

The Lions of Teranga were hauled by boss Pape Thiaw after Morocco were handed a penalty in the dying moments of .

Sadio Mane did not leave the pitch with his team-matesCredit: x He could be seen calling them back onto the pitchCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk

was judged to have fouled Brahim Diaz in the box just minutes after had a 92nd-minute goal disallowed.

The decision caused uproar in the Senegal camp, with many disputing both the disallowed goal and the penalty decision.

But after a, Mane eventually convinced his team-mates back onto the pitch.

, 33, revealed after the final that it was him who played the key role in getting the match back underway.

Video showed the former Liverpool star standing on the pitch trying to usher the Senegal players back from the changing room.

Speaking after the game, he insisted that he did not “understand” the decision made by Thiaw and his team-mates to leave the pitch.

He said: “It was me who convinced the team to return to the pitch.

“The players and the coach had decided to withdraw, and I didn’t understand that decision.

“But in the end, I told everyone to come back immediately and play at all costs.”

He added: “The decision was being made by everyone.

“The team told me they had decided to leave the field and not play, but I was there, I spoke with some about whether it was a good idea or not and decided to bring everyone back onto the pitch.

“I think it was the best thing. This is football. The referee can sometimes make mistakes, but we don’t know.

“We’re in the game and people judge. It could have been a penalty or not, but that wasn’t the most important thing.

“The most important thing was the people who were watching.

Senegal boss Pape Thiaw has apologised for pulling players off the pitchCredit: Reuters Mane lifted the trophy for SenegalCredit: Anadolu via Getty Images

“The world was watching this match and it wasn’t fair to stop the game in that way.

“It would have been a shame to see this kind of scenario happen.

“Just imagine a second going into the locker rooms and the football match stopping there.

“I think that would convey a negative image of our football. I think Africa today does not deserve that.”

Mane’s efforts proved worthwhile as Diaz missed the penalty to send the final to extra time.

Pape Gueye netted a fantastic winning goal to hand the trophy to Senegal.

Senegal boss Thiaw also spoke after the game and admitted that he was sorry for pulling the players off the pitch.

He said: “I don’t want to go over all the incidents. I apologise for the .

“After reflecting on it I made them come back [on the pitch] – you can react in the heat of the moment.

“We accept the errors of the referee.

“We shouldn’t have done it but it’s done and now we present our apologies to football.”

Mane was rewarded for his heroics to get the game back on as the injured captain .

Part of the reason behind the move was that it would be Mane’s final appearance at Afcon.